Electric iron



Dec. 11 1923.

H. 5.: Doom ELECTRIC IRON Filed June 13. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 11 1 3- ELECTRI RON Filed June 13. 12:21 2 Sheds-Shut 2 Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES HENRY S. DODD, 0F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES R. L. STARR,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ELECTRIC IRON.

Application filed June 13,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ilnnnr S. Donn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and residentiof the city of Toronto, county of York, Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Irons, described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that form part of the same.

The principal objects of this invention are, to obviate the dangers incident to the use of electric irons through the users inadvertently leaving them connected with the current, and to provide a switch mechanism for cutting off the current, which will be operated in the normal act of handling the iron.

A further object is to devise a switch control which may be readily attached to an iron and which will be of a strong and durable nature.

The principal features of the invention consist in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, whereby a pivotal switch member is operated by a longitudinally movable member controlled by a pivotal member arranged in the handle of the iron, and whereby said switch is mounted in a detachable insulating unit.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view-0t an iron constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion of the switch casing being broken away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal midse -.tional view showing the iron set upon its end to -maintain the electrical connection closed,

for the preheating of the iron.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the insulator block showing the connection with one of the heating element terminals.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the connection to one of the switch terminals.

It is well known to those conversant with the art that-the use of switches in electric irons has been unsuccessful and that practically all irons being marketed at the present time have a block or plug connector which is placed upon the terminals when the heat is required and pulled oil? when there is enough heat. This condition is highly unsatisfactory and has been the cause of considerable fire loss through irons being 1921. Serial No. 477,155.

tion to produce an electric switch which will be very positive in its action, will minimize the element of sparking and will not retain a closed circuit unless the operator deliberately intends to leave it so connected.

In carrying this invention into effect I have equipped an iron so that the heater element terminals 1 and 2 extend into an insulator block 3 which is fastened to the iron casing 4:.

The terminal 2 is connected by a screw 5 to a plate 6 which extends laterally in the block and projects above vthe surface thereof to be connected to the ordinary plug.

A late 7 having an end corresponding with that of the plate 6 is embedded in the block 3 to form the other connector with the plug and to this plate is secured a screw terminal 8 which extends downwardly through the block and is threaded in said plate.

The block is formed with a parallel pair of ribs 9 with the top surface arranged 1ongitudinally of the iron which ribs are adapted to fit inside theswitch casing 10 to positively locate it. The iron handle 11 is supported by the U-shaped metal member 12 and to the back member of this metal support is secured an insulating block 13. c

In the bloclq 13 is embedded a pair of metal contacts 14 and 15. The contact 14 is secured to the terminal 1 by a screw 16 and the contact 1:) with the terminal screw 8 by a flexible connection 17..

The upper ends of the contacts 14 and 15 are exposed and are adapted to be bridged by a switch member to close the electric circuit to the heating element.

A sheetmetal member 18 is formed in a substantially channel shaped structure, the lower end thereof being secured to the insulating block 13 by the screws 19. The side walls of the member 18 at the top form a pair of 'lugs 20 and between these lugs'is pivotally mounted the hollowmetal member- Ill and in which is secured a roller pin 30 supporting on the outer ends the roller contacts 31, which are adapted toengage the contacts 14 and 15 to close the electrical circuit to the heating element.

The switch member is held in place by a coil spring 32' securedatthe upper end to the pivotal pin and extending downwardly and connected to a cross pin 33 extending between the arms 27 of the switch member. When the arm 22 of the hollow member 21 is in the forward position the small pins 24 will be in rearward relation with a. straight line between the pivot pin 25 and the cross pin 33 and the tension of the spring will hold the contacts 31in engagement with the fixed contacts. I

Upon the swinging of the member 21 on its pivot the pins 24 will move forwardly in the notches 26 and change the relative arrangement or" the spring and the throwing over of the pivotal member 21 causes the said pins 24 to strike the forward side of the notches, thus throwing the switch in a backward direction which is acceleratedby the spring 32. A very quick break of the electrical contact is thus made.

The casing 10 is secured by a screw 34 fastened in the member 21 and enclose the switch and. the contacts. The member 21 is operated by a tubular member 35 extending transversely through the top of the casing 10 to which it is pivot-ally connected. This tube extends into a tube 36 in the handle 11- and it projects outwardly through the rear.

of the casing 10 and is adapted to be pushed in against the spiral compression spring 37 to throw the switch into electrical contact. Upon being released the tube 35 is forced rearwardly by the spring 37 and automatically breaks the contact. The movement of the tube 35 is limi-ted by a cross pin 38 which extends through slots 39 in said tube.

A slot 40 is cutjn the bottom' side of the tube 35 and a corresponding slot is cut in the tube 36.

' A. link 41 is pivotally secured toward the forward end of the tube and the rearward end is adapted to swing outwardly through the slots in said tubes. To the outer end of this link is connected a pivotal arm 42 secured at the forward end on a pivot pin 43 arranged in a slot in the underside of the handle. This arm is engaged'b-y the fingers of the person using the iron in the operation of ironing and is held in thepositi'on shown in Figure 2 witha very slight effort but upon being released the spring- 37 forces the tube 35 backwardly to throw the switch out of contact.

The casing 10 is provided with an indent 44 in the to in which is pivotally mounted a dog 45. hisdog normally rests by gravity in the position shown in Figure 1 and the iron may be placed on its base end resting armac normal way. lit it "is desired to allow the current to remain on while the iron is resting on its base end a slight movement of the iron will cause the do-g'45 to swing on its pivot and allow the handle-portion to drop. A slight downward pressure or a squeezingof the handle will throw the switch into the closed position and the weight of the iron will hold the switch closed as shown in Figure 2. It will remain in this position until lifted and the current will continue to flow as long as the squeezing pressure of the hand is maintained on the member 42 but immediately such pressure is released the compression spring 32 operates the switch in the manner described and breaks the contact. A r

very positive connecting switch with a quick Another feature of importance of the construction shown is that the metal handle is supported on insulating thim-bles which prevent the heat from being conducted to the switch mechanism from the body of the iron.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an electric iron, the combination with a pair of terminals rigidly connected with the heater element, of a pivotal switch member adapted to close the circuit between said terminals, a reciprocable member supported in the handle and operatively connected with said switch, and means for gperating said longitudinally movable memer. a

'2. lln) an electric iron, the. combination with a pair of terminals rigidly connected with the heater element, of a pivotal switch member adapted to close the circuit between said terminals, a reciprocablemember supported in the handle and operatively'connected with said switch, and a member pivotally secured in the handleand operatively connected with said reciprocable member.

'3. In an electric iron, the combination with a pair of terminals connected with the heater element, of a pivotal switch member adapted to close the circuit betweensaid terminals, a reciprocable member supported inthe handle and movable longitudinally I thereof to operate said switch, a link pivotally connected to said longitudinally movable member and adapted to swing out- W wardly therefrom, and an. arm pivotal'ly conamaze nected at one end to said link and at the other end to the handle.

4 In an electric iron, the combination with :a pair of terminals connected with the heater element, of a pivotal switch. member ada ted to close the circuit between said termina s, a member supported in the handle and movable longitudinally thereof to operate said switch, a compression spring arranged at the end of said member adapte to' move it longitudinally, means for limiting its movement, an arm pivotally mounted at one end of the handle, and ii link connected at the other end of said arm and to said longitudinally movable member to move it against said spring. k

5. In an electric iron, the combination with a pair of terminals connected with the heater element, a rigid support adjacent to said terminals, a member pivotally mounted on said rigid support, a switch member adapted to engage said terminals and supported from said pivotal member, a coil tension s ring connecting said switch member with t e pivot pin of said pivotal member, means carried on the pivotal member for throwing the switch member into and out of contact with said terminals, and means arranged in the handle'for swinging said pivotal member.

6. In an electric iron, the combination heater element, a rigid support'adjacent to said terminals and havin a parallel pair of lugs at the top, a mem r pivotally supported between said lugs and having an open centre, short pins extending inwardly from the sides of said pivotal member, a switch member .having side arms formed with notches at the topengaging said pins, a

cross bar between said side arms, a spiral tension spring secured at one end to said 7. In an electric iron, the combination with the heater element and terminals thereof, of an insulator block having plug con-' nections embedded therein adapted to be connected with the terminals, an insulator block fitting on the aforesaid block and having a pair of terminals electrically connected with the terminals in the aforesaid block, a metal member secured tothe latter insulating block, a switch arm pivotally supported on said metal member ada ted to 10in the terminals carried by sai block, means carried by said member for 0 rating said switch with a snap action, an means arranged in the handle adapted to operate the switch operating member.

8. In an electric iron, the combination with the handle, of an insulating block secured to the iron casing and having a pair of terminal posts embedded therein, a secondary insulating block rigidly connected to the handle and abutting the aforesaid block andhaving a 'pair of'terminals embedded therein, a switch member adapted to close 5 an electrical circuit to the latter terminals, with a pair of terminals connected with the a. casing enclosing said switch mechanism, a reciprocatin member operatin handle adaptef to operate said switc mechanism and projectingthrough said casing, and a ivotal member secured'to said casin and a apted to support the iron whengilaced u nits base end to prevent the movement 0 the switch operatiiIifEmember.

NRY S. DODD.

in the 

